Laundering Tips That Will Change Your Life

#1 Get Stains Out of Your Whites

Soak your whites with stains in warm salt water to prep them for stain removal. Then apply hydrogen peroxide straight to the stain and let stand for 5 minutes. Last make a paste out of Dawn Extra Power and Baking soda, then gently scrub the past into the stain. You can do this by rubbing the material together, or by using a soft tooth brush. (We like to use a retired electric tooth brush for added stain penetration)

You likely have these ingredients on hand, but if you don't all you need is some spare change and a trip to your local dollar store.

#2 Keep Your Whites Their Whitest

Over time your whites will tend to dull in their overall brightness. They could be completely stain free, but they don't shine like they used to. It could be caused from UV rays to a build up of residues. Do your white T-shirts tend to go grey? White socks look dirty no matter how many times they're washed? Try one of these tried and trusted methods for making whites stay white: Soak in a solution of 4 litres water and 180g bicarbonate of soda. Soak in hot water in which you've dissolved 5 aspirin tablets (325mg each). Add 240ml white vinegar to the washing machine's *rinse* cycle.

#3 Get Rid of Yellow Stains

With time, white cotton and linen tend to turn yellow hardly the fresh, crisp look for which cotton is famous. Let sodium come to the rescue by mixing ¼ cup salt and ¼ cup baking soda with 1 gallon water in a large cooking pot. Add the yellowed items and boil for 1 hour.

#4 Dry Sweaters with Pantyhose

Don't pin sweaters directly to your drying line; instead, run an old pair of pantyhose through one sleeve, through the neck, and out the other sleeve, and clothes pin the hose to the line.

#5 Freshen a Laundry Hamper

Hampers are handy for keeping dirty laundry in one place, but they can get a little ripe when packed with soiled clothes. Two ways to prevent hamper smells:

Cut the foot off a pair of old pantyhose, fill it with baking soda, knot it, and toss this makeshift odor eater into the hamper. Replace the baking soda every month or so.

Keep a box of baking soda next to the hamper and sprinkle some on soiled clothes as you throw them in the washer, where the soda will freshen and soften the load.

#6 Make an Improv Drying Rack

Running a dryer bumps up your electric bill, so if you're thrifty, you'll want to air-dry any items you can. But don't think you need a sunny day or even a clothesline or store-bought drying rack. Just suspend an old (clean) refrigerator shelf or oven rack from a beam in your garage or basement and hook wet clothes on coat hangers onto

#7 Get Blacker Blacks, Darker Darks

While faded and distressed-looking garments are the rage for some age groups, you may prefer not to look as if the last time you went clothes-shopping was 1998. Here are some tips for keeping black and dark-colored wardrobe items looking like new.

For blacks, add 2 cups brewed coffee or tea to the rinse cycle.

For dark colors like navy blue or plum, add 1 cup table salt to the *rinse* cycle.

For denim that will be slow to fade, soak jeans in salt water or a 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar before the first wash. Turn the jeans inside out before putting them in the machine and turn the temperature setting to cold.

#8 Clean Your Dryer Vent From the Outside

Stuffed-up dryer vents can, in worst case scenarios, cause fires, but most of us never think of examining the vent from the outside, on a regular basis. To do so, carefully lift up the vent flap and clean it out assuming that it's not inhabited by any of the following creatures: pigeons, skunks, fox kits, snakes (yuck), field mice or raccoon (this is a favorite passageway into a warm house). If you do have visitors, call your local animal control.

#9 Try Listerine in your Washing Machine

Add half a cup of mouthwash to your empty washing machine and run it through a cycle to disinfect it

#10 Create Starch Substitutes

No need to run out to the store to buy starch to stiffen your shirt collars or restore body to shapeless clothing. Make your own by pouring 2 cups water into a jar and adding 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Screw the jar lid on tightly and shake well. Now pour the solution into a spray bottle for use when ironing.

If your permanent press items are looking a bit shapeless, don't use starch when ironing. Instead, add a cup of powdered milk to the final rinse cycle of the wash. Got milk? Got shape.

#11 Never Lose a Sock Again

The invisible sock bandit who hangs around washing machines and snatches one sock from a pair will probably never be apprehended, but here's a way to thwart him. Give each family member a mesh bag for their dirty socks. Then, on wash day, close the bags and throw them into the washing machine. The sneaky thief will leave empty-handed and you should only have to replace socks when they wear out.

#12 Clean Rugs and Curtains

If cotton rugs or cotton curtains have faded, simply add â…“ cup salt to your laundry detergent to brighten the colors. If a rug is too large for the machine washing, scrub it well with a clean rag dipped in salt water.

#13 Battle Odors on The Go

Tired of bad smells in that gym bag? In that sports equipment bag? In the fabric of your car? A bag of damp beach towels? Are you packing for a long trip and just want your clothes to remain fresh?

This tip is super easy! Take a mason jar, fill it with baking soda, poke holes in the lid of the jar, wrap it up and tie it with pantyhose. That's it! The size of mason jar will vary on the job at hand. Use a mini jar for athletic shoes, or a large mason jar for a dirty clothes gym bag.

#14 Get Rid of Odors

Know that "new" smell of dye or chemicals that comes with just-bought sheets or shirts? Have a teenager who thinks nothing of leaving sweaty clothes in a locker or gym bag for weeks on end? Worse, ever have a run-in with a skunk? Grab two old deodorizer standbys. First, add ½ cup baking soda to 1 gallon (3.78 liters) water and pre-soak any smelly washable items for about 2 hours. Then, as you machine-wash them, add ½ cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle.